Social relationships and healthy ageing : epidemiological evidence for the development of a local intervention programme

Introduction In view of the growing number of older people in our society and the related consequences for health and well-being, research focussing on healthy ageing is essential. Already, the associations between supportive social relationships and healthy ageing have been established. However, there is as yet no consensus about whether or not it is the structure of the social network, its function- ing or a combination that is most important for health, and in addition, about which aspects of structure and function are important. Aim The main objective of this thesis was to investigate aspects of the structure and functioning of social relationships and their influence on mental, physical and social health in older people. This was relevant to obtain scientific evidence for practice-based research to support local policy making on healthy ageing. Methods Different characteristics and functions of social relationships, such as frequency of contact, different sources of social network ties, satisfaction with relationships, positive and negative perceptions of social support and social engagement have been analysed in cross-sectional and prospective studies. Cross-sectional data are from six community health services in the eastern part of the Netherlands. The overall sample size constituted of 24,936 people aged 65 and over (response 79%). Prospective data are from the Doetinchem Cohort Study. The first examination round (1987-1991) comprised 12,448 men and women aged 20 to 59 years. The overall response rate was 62% for the baseline measurement and 79%, 75% and 78% for rounds 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Results Cross-sectional analyses showed that satisfaction with the social contacts was strongly related to physical (OR 2.36; 95% CI 2.11-2.64), mental (OR 4.65; 95% CI 4.20-5.15) and self-perceived health (OR 2.52; 95% CI 2.29-2.78). Longitudinal analyses underlined this finding by showing that unfavourable levels of social support were predictive for health-compromising behaviours and poor health over a 10-year period of follow-up, and for increased mortality risk over a 15- year period of follow-up (HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.03-2.39). Furthermore, neighbours were found to be an important source of the social network ties of older people in relation to physical (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.68-2.07), mental (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.39-1.69) and self-perceived health (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.30-1.54). Further exploration of the relationship between social support and loneliness using structural equation modelling identified that social support in everyday situations may serve as a good start- ing point for health promotion activities to prevent loneliness. To better target health promotion activities for healthy ageing, analyses were performed to group older people into subgroups with similar social engagement activity patterns. Five clusters were identified: 1) less socially engaged elderly; 2) less socially engaged caregivers; 3) socially engaged caregivers; 4) leisure-engaged elderly; and 5) productive-engaged elderly. Older people who were not engaged in any social activity other than the care for a sick person, were identified as a possible target group, given the relatively high share of unhealthy people among them. In this non-socially engaged target group, the prevalence of loneliness was 48%, compared to 30% in the socially engaged groups; poor self-perceived health: 41% compared to 14%; poor mental health: 25% compared to 9%; poor physical health: 27% compared to 2%. Conclusion Well-functioning social relationships were favourably associated with health. By integrating all results, the local data have strengthened the scientific evidence-base for local policy making and have contributed to the development of an evidence-based community intervention supporting social participation among older people. <br/

Social participation and depression in old age: a fixed-effects analysis in 10 European countries

We examined whether changes in different forms of social participation were associated with changes in depressive symptoms in older Europeans. We used lagged individual fixed effects models based on data from 9,068 individuals aged 50+ in wave 1 (2004/05), wave 2 (2006/07) and wave 4 (2010/11) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). Controlling for a wide set of confounders, increased participation in religious organizations predicted a decline in depressive symptoms four years later (β =-0.190 units, 95% confidence interval: -0.365, -0.016), while participation in political/community organizations was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms (β =0.222, 95% confidence interval: 0.018, 0.428). There were no significant differences between European regions in these associations. Our findings suggest that social participation is associated with depressive symptoms, but the direction and strength of the association depends on the type of social activity. Participation in religious organizations may offer benefits to mental health beyond those offered by other forms of social participation

Carbon debt : inzichtelijk maken van maatschappelijke risico's van het opnemen van carbon debt vereisten

In het Energieakkoord is afgesproken dat meestook van biomassa in kolencentrales niet meer wordt dan 25 PetaJoule. Als onderdeel van de totale biomassa is zo’n 3,5 miljoen ton hout nodig. De mee te stoken biomassa zal aanvullend op de NTA8080-eisen moeten voldoen aan ‘duurzaamheidseisen voor koolstofschuld, indirecte landgebruikseffecten (ILUC) en duurzaam bosbeheer (FSC)’. In dit rapport wordt verkend, in hoeverre de duurzaamheidseisen genoemd in het Energieakkoord, risico’s op een carbon debt al uitsluiten en welke biomassa-stromen additioneel uitgesloten worden door een carbon debt eis. Ook zijn mogelijke procesrisico’s geïdentificeerd die discussie over carbon debt kan opleveren voor de verdere uitwerking van de afspraken uit het Energieakkoord

A concept analysis of befriending

Aim. To report an analysis of the concept of Befriending. Background. Befriending is an intervention used in a range of nursing, health and social care settings to provide support for individuals who are socially isolated or lack social support. However, in many cases befriending and its impact remains poorly understood and under researched. Concept analysis provides clarification of the concept and basis for further research and development. Design. Concept analysis. Data sources. AMED, Psyc Articles, Psych Info, Medline, MedlinePlus, Social Science Index and CINHAL databases were searched for literature published between 1993–2013 using the search term Befriending. Methods. Walker and Avant’s method of concept analysis was chosen. This combined with insights from Risjord’s work produced a theoretical concept analysis which focused on the concept in peer reviewed academic literature. Results. There are currently several ways the mechanisms of befriending and its effects on individuals and communities are understood. It is possible however to identify key attributes which define the concept and differentiate it from related concepts, such as peer support and mentoring. Key attributes are that it is an organised intervention, involving the creation of an emotionally connected friendlike relationship, where there is a negotiation of power. Conclusion. This concept analysis has clarified current understandings and uses of befriending. It provides the basis for widening the focus of research into the effectiveness and impact of befriending on those who are befriended, those who befriend and the communities where befriending takes place

TEWI-benadering mestbewerking

Aanleiding voor het onderzoek is dat in het verleden mestverwerkingstechnieken op diverse aspecten zijn beschreven en geprioriteerd, echter zonder rekening te houden met de emissie van lachgas en methaan. Omdat bij sommige technieken mogelijk sprake is van een afwentelingmechanisme, waarbij de techniek bijvoorbeeld op het ene gebied de milieubelasting reduceert terwijl de broeikasgasemissies stijgen, is het nuttig ook op dit gebied een prioritering aan te brengen. Het hoofddoel van dit onderzoek is het opstellen van een berekeningsmethode voor het bepalen van het reductiepotentieel voor de emissie van broeikasgassen ten gevolge van de bewerking en verwerking van mest en de inzet van de hiertoe benodigde technieken. Hiertoe is een formulier ontwikkeld dat als separate bijlage is toegevoegd aan deze rapportage. Daarnaast wordt, op basis van de ontwikkelde methodiek, voor een aantal kansrijk geachte behandelingsmethoden voor mest een analyse uitgevoerd naar het reductiepotentieel voor overige broeikasgassen. Op basis van deze waarden is een onderlinge ranking gegeven

Poor health, unhealthy behaviors, and unfavorable work characteristics influence pathways of exit from paid employment among older workers in Europe: A four year follow-up study

Objectives The aim of this study was to get insight into the role of poor health, unhealthy behaviors, and unfavorable work characteristics on exit from paid employment due to disability pension, unemployment, and early retirement among older workers. Methods Respondents of the longitudinal Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) in 11 European countries were selected when (i) aged between 50 years and the country-specific retirement age, (ii) in paid employment at baseline, and (iii) having information on employment status during the 4-year follow-up period (N=4923). Self-perceived health, health behaviors, and physical and psychosocial work characteristics were measured by interview at baseline. Employment status was derived from follow-up interviews after two and four years. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify determinants of unemployment, disability pension, and early retirement. Results Poor health was a risk factor for disability pension [hazard ratio (HR) 3.90, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.51-6.05], and a lack of physical activity was a risk factor for disability pension (HR 3.05, 95% CI 1.68-5.55) and unemployment (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.13-3.01). A lack of job control was a risk factor for disability pension, unemployment, and early retirement (HR 1.30-1.77). Conclusions Poor health, a lack of physical activity, and a lack of job control played a role in exit from paid employment, but their relative importance differed by pathway of labor force exit. Primary preventive interventions focusing on promoting physical activity as well as increasing job control may contribute to reducing premature exit from paid employment

Overweight and Obesity and Associated Factors among School-Aged Adolescents in Ghana and Uganda

The aim of this study was to assess overweight and obesity and associated factors in school-going adolescents in low income African countries (Ghana, Uganda). The total sample included 5,613 school children aged 13 to 15 years from nationally representative samples from two African countries. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess the relationship between dietary behavior, substance use, physical activity, psychosocial factors and overweight or obesity. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined based on self-reported height and weight and the international child body mass index standards. Results indicate a prevalence of overweight or obesity of 10.4% among girls and 3.2% among boys, and 0.9% and 0.5% obesity only among girls and boys, respectively. Among girls smoking cigarettes and loneliness and among boys smoking cigarettes were found to be associated with overweight or obesity in multivariable analysis. Overweight status was not associated with the intake of fruits, vegetables, and sedentary behavior. Low prevalence rates of overweight or obesity were found in Ghana and Uganda. Smoking cessation and social programs could be integrated into strategies to prevent and treat overweight and obesity in youth

Psychometric properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the CASP-19, a measure of quality of life in early old age: the HAPIEE study

Objectives: The aim was to assess the reliability and validity of the quality of life (QoL) instrument CASP-19, and three shorter versions of CASP-12 in large population sample of older adults from the HAPIEE (Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe) study. Methods: From the Czech Republic, Russia, and Poland, 13,210 HAPIEE participants aged 50 or older completed the retirement questionnaire including CASP-19 at baseline. Three shorter 12-item versions were also derived from original 19-item instrument. Psychometric validation used confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, Pearson’s correlation, and construct validity. Results: The second-order four-factor model of CASP-19 did not provide a good fit to the data. Two-factor CASP-12v.3 including residual covariances for negative items to account for the method effect of negative items had the best fit to the data in all countries (CFI D 0.98, TLI D 0.97, RMSEA D 0.05, and WRMR D 1.65 in the Czech Republic; 0.96, 0.94, 0.07, and 2.70 in Poland; and 0.93, 0.90, 0.08, and 3.04 in Russia). Goodness-of-fit indices for the two-factor structure were substantially better than second-order models. Conclusions: This large population-based study is the first validation study of CASP scale in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which includes a general population sample in Russia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. The results of this study have demonstrated that the CASP-12v.3 is a valid and reliable tool for assessing QoL among adults aged 50 years or older. This version of CASP is recommended for use in future studies investigating QoL in the CEE populations

Assessing the greenhouse gas emissions from poultry fat biodiesel

This article attempts to answer the question: What will most likely happen in terms of emitted greenhouse gases if the use of poultry fat for making biodiesel used in transportation is increased? Through a well-to-wheel assessment, several different possible scenarios are assessed, showing that under average conditions, the use of poultry fat biodiesel instead of diesel leads to a slight reduction (6%) in greenhouse gas emissions. The analysis shows that poultry fat is already used for different purposes and using poultry fat for biodiesel will therefore remove the poultry fat from its original use. This implies that even though the use of biodiesel is assumed to displace petrochemical diesel, the 'original user' of the poultry fat will have to find a substitute, whose production leads to a greenhouse gas emissions comparable to what is saved through driving on poultry fat biodiesel rather than petrochemical diesel. Given that it is the production of the substitute for the poultry fat which mainly eliminates the benefit from using poultry fat for biodiesel, it is argued that whenever assessing the greenhouse gas emissions from biodiesel made from by-products (such as rendered animal fats, used cooking oil, etc.) it is very important to include the oil's alternative use in the assessment

Evaluation design for a complex intervention program targeting loneliness in non-institutionalized elderly Dutch people

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this paper is to provide the rationale for an evaluation design for a complex intervention program targeting loneliness among non-institutionalized elderly people in a Dutch community. Complex public health interventions characteristically use the combined approach of intervening on the individual and on the environmental level. It is assumed that the components of a complex intervention interact with and reinforce each other. Furthermore, implementation is highly context-specific and its impact is influenced by external factors. Although the entire community is exposed to the intervention components, each individual is exposed to different components with a different intensity.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A logic model of change is used to develop the evaluation design. The model describes what outcomes may logically be expected at different points in time at the individual level. In order to address the complexity of a real-life setting, the evaluation design of the loneliness intervention comprises two types of evaluation studies. The first uses a quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design to evaluate the effectiveness of the overall intervention. A control community comparable to the intervention community was selected, with baseline measurements in 2008 and follow-up measurements scheduled for 2010. This study focuses on changes in the prevalence of loneliness and in the determinants of loneliness within individuals in the general elderly population. Complementarily, the second study is designed to evaluate the individual intervention components and focuses on delivery, reach, acceptance, and short-term outcomes. Different means of project records and surveys among participants are used to collect these data.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Combining these two evaluation strategies has the potential to assess the effectiveness of the overall complex intervention and the contribution of the individual intervention components thereto.</p